Leptoporus-mollis_11

Description:

Leptoporus mollisSlo.: mehka skutovkaDat.: Oct. 31. 2013Lat.: 46.38337 Long.: 13.75061Code: Bot_768/2013_DSC9113Habitat: Mixed wood, east inclined fairly steep mountain slope, calcareous ground, humid place, in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevation 640 m (2.100 feet), alpine phytogeographical region.Substratum: large, approximately 70 cm (2.3 feet) in diameter, debarked fallen trunk of Picea abies in its late stage of disintegration.Place: Trenta valley, west of village Trenta, right bank of river Soa, next to 'Soka pot' trail, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comments: This is an interesting fungus from several reasons. First it is quite rare. Second it is the only known species in the genus Leptoporus. Third it is a real surprise when you touch it - surprisingly spongy and so soft, that it is hard to handle it without damaging it. Indeed in strong contrast to what one expects from similar bracket fungi on wood.Growing in groups, many fruit bodies present on the log; sessile brackets up to 5 cm wide, up to 2.5 cm off the substrate and about 2 cm thick, trama layer up to 12 mm thick, pore layer 5-7 mm thick, brackets partly fused; thickly effuse-reflexed form up to 5 x 3.5 cm, totally resupinated patches up to 20 x 6 cm; bruising reddish-brown when touched; taste distinctly aromatic-bitter; smell mushroomy, pleasant, lightly acid; flesh very soft like watery white cheese; no SP obtained, spores collected directly from pore surface using a soft brush; no hypha clamps observed; 5% KOH reaction on pore surface deep brown with red tint; the same on pileus, yet slower reaction and less intensive. Spores' width fits expectations; however, their length is somewhat too small. Probably they were not yet mature.Spores smooth. Dimensions (only larger spores have been measured): 4.7 (SD= 0.2) x 1.8 (SD = 0.1) , Q = 2.62 (SD = 0.23), n = 21. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water. Basidia dimensions: 16.1 (SD = 1.8) x 4.4 (SD = 0.4) , n = 7. Olympus CH20, NEA 40x, magnification 400 x, in water, Congo red. AmScope MA500 digital camera.Protected according to: Uredba o zavarovanih prostoiveih vrstah gliv, Uradni list RS, t.58/2011 (Regulation of protected wild fungi, Official Gazette of Republic Slovenia, no. 58/2011), (2011).Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJFRef.:(1) A. Bernicchia, Polyporaceaes.l., Fungi Europaei, Vol. 10., EdizioniCandusso (2005), p 317. (2) S. Buczacki, Collins Fungi Guide, Collins (2012), p 498. (3) G.J.Krieglsteiner (Hrsg.), Die Grosspilze BadenWrttembergs, Band 1, Ulmer (2000), p 544. (4) Boletus Informaticus, Slovenian Forestry Institute, BI data base, www.zdravgozd.si/bi_index.aspx (5) mushroomhobby.com/Gallery/Polypores/Leptoporus_mollis.htm 5-7x1.5-2(6) fr.mycobank.org/BioloMICS.aspx?Link=T&TableKey=146826... (7) www.mycoquebec.org/bas.php?trie=L&l=l&nom=Leptopo...